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NEW FOR THURSDAY: New Boardwalk Restrooms Will Not Be Ready By Summer’s Start

OCEAN CITY – A decision was made this week to install temporary restrooms at Caroline Street on the Boardwalk as the new comfort station’s completion date has been delayed due to weather.

A last minute agenda item was added to Monday evening’s Mayor and City Council legislative session regarding a delay in the completion date of Caroline Street’s comfort station project.

Council President Lloyd martin presented the item that came before the council that afternoon as bids came in to place temporary restrooms off the Boardwalk on Caroline Street. Due to weather delays, the new Caroline Street Comfort Station and Stage will not be completed until the end of June.

According to City Engineer Terry McGean, the developers, Ocean City Fix and Black Diamond Builders have lost about 14 days of construction due to weather and another equivalent amount to clean up the site following the poor weather.

Staff recommended the Mayor and Council approve the temporary solution of Royal Restrooms in the amount of $17,050 per month plus $3,550 for delivery and installation. The council voted 6-0 with Councilwoman Margaret Pillas absent to approve.

The temporary restrooms will be located immediately next to the construction site on Caroline Street and will be installed by Springfest, which is set for May 2-5. They will include 10 men and female stalls, and two ADA stalls. The restrooms are trailer mounted, plumbed with running water and connected to the sewer system. A bathroom attendant will remain on site.

The demolition of the old underground facility began in December and at that time the estimated completion date was this May.

The early design stages for the new facility began a couple years ago and the Mayor and City Council went through three different renderings before deciding on a design, as well as budgeted $1 million for construction funded from a 2012 bond.

In November 2011, architect David Quillin and McGean presented a proposed design of the new Caroline Street building, but the council was not enthused and requested some changes. After several adjustments, Quillin returned for the final time last July with a rendering that the Mayor and Council approved that included the barrel-vaulted roof changed to a gable roof, the fabric awning over the stage also changed to a gable roof, and the end porches and stage were changed to have exposed wood trusses with bow bottom-chord.

Simple explanation. Grant’s provide funding to purchase or implement things. Taxes provide funding to keep things operating. There were apparently NO funding to clean the restrooms so they could not be opened. Look at Salisbury. Would you rather pee or look at a fireboat all season long?